An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Saint Rose Elementary School, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on 17 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 13:40 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VE9LC. The contact should be audible over portions of Canada. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

Saint Rose School has been excitedly preparing for their upcoming communication with International Space Station Canadian Commander, Chris Hadfield. In preparation for this educational event, students in grades three to five took part in a Saint John Astronomy Club presentation by Kurt Nason. November saw our kick-off assembly with special guest Greg D'Entremont. At this assembly, SRS students met their ten Barnhill Memorial School partners who will be asking Commander Hadfield student created questions. In the month of December, each class will be working on space projects linked to curriculum outcomes. Some are classroom projects linked to the K-2 curriculum, You and Your World, while some students in grades 3-5 are working on Science connections individually, in small group, or as a class. Event day will see some of the projects highlighted. Our final lead-up event of this calendar year will be on December 17th when students enjoy a presentation by UNBSJ Space Studies Professor, Phil Backman. The "Saint Rose School Space Walk" will take place on January 9th. Students will walk from classroom to classroom to observe projects, ask questions of project creators, and possibly select those projects being highlighted on event day. The week culminates with the Science East Planetarium in the gymnasium that all students will visit throughout the day for class presentations.

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. What is it like to live in the Space Station and who else lives there

with you?

2. What is the best thing you've seen in space?

3. Can you use cellphones in space?

4. What does a solar eclipse look like from the Space Station?

5. How can the Space Station orbit the Earth in 90 minutes?

6. Does it get cold in space at night and how cold?

7. How long does the oxygen supply last on the Space Station?

8. How long does it take to get to space from Earth?

9. What is your favorite part of being an astronaut?

10. Why did you want to be an astronaut and why?

11. What Earth landmarks can you see from space?

12. What does the continent of Antarctica look like from Space?

13. What do you do for entertainment for long periods of time in such small

quarter?

14. After living in a microgravity environment do you find it hard to walk

when you return to Earth?

15. We have read that the ISS is about the size of 5 NHL rinks. Have you

ever gotten lost?

16. How do you think living on the ISS will influence your song writing?

17. How do you feel about being the first Canadian ever to command the ISS?

18. If given the choice would you prefer living in space or on Earth?

19. On the Space Shuttle what happens to the external fuel tank once it's

jettisoned?

20. How did the ISS get into space and how does it stay there?

Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact.

Next planned event(s):

TBD

ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.

ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).

Thank you & 73,

David - AA4KN